Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-06-04
HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE.
How Government Lands May be OBJ
fained IN Montana.

How Government Lands May be 10
tained IN Montana.
Settlers are coming in large numbers ts
northern Montana The land office re-
turns show that the homesteads entered
around Great Falls is large and increas
ing daily Many inquiries regarding
government lands are answered in the de-
tails appended. Further information will
re readily given by the real estate agents
and lawyers in this city.
PRE-EMITIoNs
Heads of families. widows, or single
persons {male or female), over the age OF
twenty one years, citizens of the United
States, or who have declared their inten-
ton to become such under the naturaliza-
| ton laws, may enter upon any "offered'
or s'unoffered" lands, or any unsurveyed
lands to which the Indians title is extin-
guished, and purchase not exceeding 100
acres under pre-emption laws. After
making settlement, if on Offered" land,
the applicant must file his declaratory
statement with the district land office
within thirty days, for which fee of 80
is required, and within one year from date
of settlement make final proof of his actual
residence on and cultivation of the tract,
and pay therefor at S1.25 per acre II out
side of land grant railroad limits, OR $3.50
per acre If within these limits, and he may
pay in cash or by military bounty land
warrants, agricultural college, private
claim or supreme court scrip.
| When the tract has been surveyed and
is not "offered" land, the claimant must
file his or her declaratory statement with
| In three months from date of settlement
and maze proof and payment within thir-
| ty-three months from date of settlement
! This is the first thing to be done under
the pre-emption law.
| When settlements are made on unsur-
veyed lands, settlers are required to file
| their deciaratory statement within three
months after the date of the receipt at the
district land ottire, of the approved plat of
the township embracing their claims, and
MAKE proof and payment within thirty
months from the expiration of said three
months, payment the same as in the case
of "offered" land
The pre-emptor may submit proofs of
| residence ana improvements at any time
after six months of actual residence. lie
must show by his own testimony and by
two credible witnesses, such actual resi-
dence and cultivation-a habitable dwell
| ling and other improvements, to the salts
| faction of the land officers that the spirit
of the law has been complied with.
At any time before the expiration of the
time allowed Tor proof and payment, the
settler may, by making proper application
| at the land office, and payment of the re-
quired fee, convert his claim into home
stead, and the time he has resided upon
the land is credited on homestead resi-
denee If he desires. No person who
abandons his residence on his own land to
reside on public land in the same state or
territory, or who owns 800 acres Of land,
is entitled to the benefits of the pre-emp-
ton laws. 1t is held, however. that this
does not apply to house and lot in town.
Claims can not be transferred until title
is perfected The second fling of a de-
claratory statement by any pre-emptor.
when first filing was legal In all respects,
is prohibited. Before proof of any pay
ment on pre-emption claims, written no
tice must be given by the claimants to the
register, who must post notice in his
office and cause the same to be published
in a newspaper nearest the land for at
least thirty days, as in case of homesteads.
HoMEsTEADs
ANY person who is the head of family
or who has arrived at the age Of twenty.
one years, and is citizen Of the United
States, or has filed his declaration of in
tention TO become such, is entitled to
enter one quarter section or less
quantity of unappropriated land under the
homestead laws. The applicant must
make an affidavit that the entry is made
for his exclusive use and benefit and for
actual settlement and cultivation, and must
pay the legal fee and that part of the CON-
mission required to be paid when entry is
made, as follows:
When within railroad limits, for 100
acres, fee, $40, commission, ss: for 80
acres fee. So, SO, commission, 81, and in
proportion for so or 40 acres
Any settler desiring to make final proof
must first file with the register written
notice Of his intention, describing the land
and giving the names of four witnesses by
whom the facts as to settlement, continn- |
GUS residence, cultivation, etc, are to be /
established. His notice must be accom-
panied by deposit of money sufficient to |
pay the cost Of publishing the notice,
which the register is required to publish |
for thirty days Give times) in newspaper
designated by him, or arrange with the |
publisher of the paper therefor. Notice |
is also posted in the land Office for the |
same period.
Final proof cannot, be made until the |
expiration of five years from he date of |
entry, and must be made within two wears
thereafter. When homestead settler |
dies before he can prove up, the widow. |
or, in case of her death, her heirs may |
continue settlement and obtain title upon I
requisite proof at the proper time. In
case of death of both parents, leaving in
FAINT children, the homestead may be sold
for cash for the benefit of the children.
and purchaser will receive title.
Homestead claims may be relinuuished.
but in such cases the land reverts to the
governm ent. Ii a settler does not wish
to remain FIVE years on his tract, he may
pay for It, as under pre-emption law, in
cash or warrants at any time after six
months of actual residence. This proof